This paper investigates the relationships among land-use change, biological invasion, and interspecific competition in a tropical ecosystem by linking a behavioral model of land conversion by agriculture and an ecological model of interspecific competition between a native species and an exotic invader. The model is used to examine how relative farm prices and access to forest areas influence land clearing and thus the ability of the invasive species to eliminate the native species. Simulations show that only a 20% rise in relative prices and a 2.75% increase in forest access are necessary for this outcome to occur.

URI:

http://purl.umn.edu/37275

Institution/Association:

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics>Volume 39, Special Issue, October 2007